Photo courtesy of Wayne Hills High School gymnastics

By Steve Sears

The Wayne Hills High School Gymnastics team had an interesting 2020 season.

Normally a fall sport, their ledger due to the COVID19 pandemic got bumped to March and April, 2021. Because of that and their competition with winter sports, they couldn’t set up their equipment at their home gym, so they had to move their operation to Wayne Valley High School and share gym space. 

“It was challenging,” says head coach Cathy Peter of the abbreviated season. “Usually, Wayne Valley comes to our gym for all our meets because we have a spring floor, and they do not have a spring floor. Our gym is bigger, the runway is longer, and the higher-level kids can do their higher-level skills.”

She and her team made it work. “I was just happy to have a season,” Peter says. “It didn’t matter to me and the girls where we practiced or where we had meets. We were just happy to get together and have a season, especially for my seniors.” 

One senior, Katie Aneveski, was named to First Team, All-Passaic County gymnastics, and the club also enjoyed an undefeated 2020 season. And, as of mid September, the 2021 team has had three meets thus far, and their record is currently unblemished.

As a squad that has welcomed three new freshman this season, Peter recognizes that her seniors have embraced the young trio. “They really are embracing the freshmen,” she says. “They’re helping them with choreography. They’re helping them navigate high school gymnastics. I have such a wonderful group of seniors. I am truly blessed to have them to help me.”

Peter, who worked for 30 years at North Stars Gymnastics Academy in Boonton, ironically enough was a head coach for Wayne Valley gymnastics from 1992 until 2003. In 2008, she was called for the top spot at Wayne Hills, remained sole head coach until 2017, and then split head coaching duties with Jacklyn Beck from 2018 until last years 8-week season, and this year assumed full head coaching duties again. 

Junior Jacqueline Bernardo, who won the 2019 Passaic County title, now has the opportunity to defend it. “After missing the county tournament last year, I plan on defending my 2019 county title by incorporating new skills into my routines,” she says. “My top focus going into counties this year is to trust my training no matter what routine I am performing, and to keep it simple and clean.”

With the shorter window to prepare for the 2021 season, the team readied itself, and that meant a return to their home gym. “It feels so good to be back at our home gym,” says captain Melanie Galkin, “and the bond between the girls is stronger than ever.”

Fellow captain Cassie Witten agrees. “I could say with no doubt that traveling back and forth (from Wayne Valley) and using different equipment made myself and my team a lot more grateful for our home gym. Comparing this year’s practices and meets to last year, I feel a much greater sense of team bonding and dedication. We are all very happy to be back.”

Kelly Cappo, another captain, is grateful her senior season is being spent with such an amazing group. “The team has an amazing bond this year, and everyone is supportive and hard working.” 

“I really do feel blessed that I go into work every day, and I love it,” says Peter. “I love to go in and I love to coach. I am truly blessed to have this job; it’s something that I just absolutely love to do.”